ObjectiveTo investigate the protective mechanism of prostaglandin E1 against hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury.MethodsUsing 45minute ischemiareperfusion rat model in normal temperature, PGE1 was injected into portal vein before ischemia. An hour later blood was taken from portal vein to examine the enzyme levels, including GOT, GPT, LDH and TNFα, ET1. The alteration of pathological morphology of the ischemia lobe was observed.ResultsThe three enzemes, TNFα, ET1 levels of ischemiareperfusion group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.01). The indices of the PGE1 group were much lower than those of the ischemiareperfusion group (P<0.01), but little higher than those of the control group (P>0.05). The control group had obvious alteration in pathological morphology, but only slight alteration in PGE1 group, compared with the control group. ConclusionPGE1 protects against ischemiareperfusion injury of the liver.